Guest blogger: Dianne Donovan, KMFA-FM announcer and host of Classical Austin

Solo Symphony — A Dance by Austin Symphony Conductor Peter Bay with Forklift Danceworks (July 12-14) Choreography by Allison Orr/Music by Graham Reynolds

Is it a dance? “Yes,” says choreographer Allison Orr…”movement in time and space.” A.S.O. conductor Peter Bay may not have used the word “dance” himself, but a good part of his performance was choreographed by Orr.

On opening night, for this viewer/listener, one word came to mind: ART… art, in all of its simple, complex beauty.

After studying Bay’s conducting, Orr took some of the conductor’s signature movements and embellished them for part of the “dance.” At other times, Bay was free to conduct in his usual manner…well, sort of…Bay was facing the audience with the 13-piece orchestra in between. The audience literally and figuratively saw another side of the Maestro and he certainly saw another side of his audience. I couldn’t help but think that this took a good bit of courage to be so exposed and in such an unusual setting.

The choreographed scenes were backed by beautiful ambient original music by the much-in-demand Austin composer, Graham Reynolds. At times the piano and vibraphone notes slipped one by one and drowned in a drone of strings. Reynolds also prepared orchestral reductions of works by Beethoven, Bach, and Stravinsky. Added to the mix were audio excerpts of Bay reflecting on the path that led him here… a lovely blue-based lighting scheme by Stephen Pruitt added to this dream-like work.

A toast to all involved. A toast to Orr-iginal Art!

[Choreographed Conducting with Peter Bay and Allison Orr from Stephen Pruitt on Vimeo.]

Allison Orr, Dianne Donovan, and Peter Bay in the KMFA Studios

You can still experience this!

Fri., July 13th; Sat., July 14th at 8pm
Sat., July 14th at 3pm
Rollins Studio Theatre, The Long Center

Guest blogger: Dianne Donovan, KMFA-FM announcer and host of Classical Austin

Really, it’s always a feast at the Austin Chamber Music Festival. This year is no exception. Artistic Director, Dr. Michelle Schumann, certainly achieved her goal of giving us a diverse, world-class program. I attended all three main-stage concerts last weekend, and on Friday I caught the sweet sounds of The Brasil Guitar Duo (presented by ACMC and The Austin Classical Guitar Society). Not only are these brilliant guitarists from Brazil but their program presented works largely by Brazilian composers.

Saturday, the Claremont Trio made a return to the Festival, with a dynamic performance of music by Mendelssohn, Mozart and a new work written for them by Sean Shepherd. The members of the trio also shared their artistry and energy in workshops with the young artists in the ACMC’s Summer Festival Program.

The Fine Arts Quartet closed the weekend with, you guessed it, Fine performances of quartets by Haydn and Schumann, but the show hit a whole new level of energy an excitement when Dr. Michelle Schumann joined the Quartet to perform the Dvorak Piano Quintet. Great!

That evening’s performance was dedicated to the memory of Peter Coltman, who passed away on July 3^rd, 2012. Mr. Coltman was married to ACMC founder, pianist, Felicity Coltman and was very much involved with ACMC over the years. Michelle Schumann and the very gifted ACMC student, cellist, Laura Andrade, performed Fauré’s Après Un Rêve, in a fitting musical memorial.

You can still experience the Festival!

Friday, July 13^th-Mother Falcon w/workshop artists-730pm at Antone’s

Saturday, July 14^th-Third Coast Percussion-730pm-Bates Recital Hall

Sunday, July 15^th-Matt Haimovitz (cello)& Christopher O’Riley (piano)-730pm-Bates Recital Hall

     ~posted by Dianne Donovan, KMFA announcer and producer of Classical Austin

Guest blogger: Carmel O’Donovan, on-air host of KMFA’s Sunday Matinee

I love my role as host of Sunday Matinee on KMFA, and hated having to be away from the station when I was injured in a car accident at the start of this year. That said, listening to the wonderful mix of classical music, available day and night at 89.5 as I recovered, first in hospital and then at home, is a testament to the oft-quoted adages about the power of music to heal. I think that the psychiatrist Oliver Sacks summed it up beautifully in his book Awakenings when he said, “The power of music to integrate and cure. . . is quite fundamental. It is the profoundest nonchemical medication.”

And so it was that just a week ago I witnessed another aspect of the multiple healing and empowering aspects of music. I attended a fund-raising concert for an inspirational, Austin-based non-profit organization called The Austin Harmony Project. Their mission statement proudly announces that they are “enriching the lives of the developmentally disabled through the power of art music and community.” Based in South Austin, Harmony conducts art & music sessions five days a week for developmentally disabled adults. They focus on creative self-expression, which is designed to help participants overcome physical, emotional, intellectual, and social challenges associated with their disabilities. Participants flourish in Harmony’s programs where they are valued, cared for, and given the freedom to express themselves.

The fund-raising concert mixed the voices and talents of the young people who attend Harmony with the musical talents of the executive director Tressie Seegers and her fellow musicians and friends, local musicians Tina Wilkins and Greg Whitfield. The mix of music was eclectic and entertaining, and the joy and enthusiasm evidenced by the Harmony participants raised the spirits of all who were present.

The concerts take place at regular intervals and you can find out more by visiting the website www.theaustinharmonyproject.org

~ Carmel O’Donovan is a part-time announcer on KMFA 89.5

Guest blogger: Dianne Donovan, host and producer of KMFA’s Wednesday evening program, Classical Austin

It’s always entertaining, informative, and just a little topsy-turvy when The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Austin’s Artistic Director (Ralph MacPhail, Jr) and Music Director (Jeffrey Jones-Ragona) drop by. If you missed their interview on Classical Austin (June 6th), check out the whole interview here! http://www.kmfa.org/DD-G&S-Patience-Interview.htm

The Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Austin present “Patience”

Highlights from this episode: Hear all about the G.S.S.A.’s production of Patience. Learn about the first “electric” performance of this G&S opera. What makes it great? What about that missing bar of music? Patience runs from June 7th to June 17th, and you can find out more info at the G&S website:  http://www.gilbertsullivan.org/SummerProduction.htm.

      ~posted by Dianne Donovan, KMFA announcer and producer of Classical Austin

Today “Google Doodles” honored Robert Moog’s 78th birthday with a virtual homage to the Moog synthesizer.

Here’s a partial attempt at Bach’s Toccata that we found on YouTube:

and here’s a tutorial if you’d like to give it a try yourself:

Enjoy!

Guest blogger: Sarah Addison, producer and writer of KMFA’s Pianoforte

KMFA Host Jules Brandon and guest pianist Tony Tobin

This week on Pianoforte, host Jules Brandon is joined in the studio by Austin pianist and filmmaker Tony Tobin. Tune in Wednesday night to get a special preview of his new album, Journeys, featuring Debussy’s Preludes, and his new film, Claude Debussy: Light and Impressionism, which will premiere at the Georgetown Festival of Arts on June 1st.

Here’s a preview of his Debussy film:

Toward the end of this video, you’ll see a familiar face: a conversation with Peter Bay demonstrating Debussy as an impressionist. (You can check out more film previews at www.debussypiano.com.)

Tune in for more insights as well as music from Tony Tobin, this Wednesday at 9pm, right here on KMFA, 89.5.

~posted by Sarah Addison, producer of Pianoforte

Guest blogger: Hannah Kate Schaeffer

Last night, I went to see a Metropolitan Opera broadcast on the big screen (at a Cinemark movie theatre near you). This concept may seem odd to you, as it was to me when I watched promotions for it before the movie I paid to see. I always asked myself who would pay to see a 3-hour-long opera at a movie theatre when instead you could see a quick, shallow romantic comedy? As of yesterday, though, I will no longer wonder about the lost souls who spent their money on such an attraction because I am now one of them!

Yes, the production played for 2 ½ hours without intermission, and the local Cinemark is nothing compared to the stunning Met Opera concert hall, but after 2 minutes of Wagner’s Das Rheingold I was hooked. The opera is part of Wagner’s Ring Cycle, which consists of 6 parts – each playing separately through the next few weeks.

The Rheinmaidens

The curtains opened to three mermaids (or Rheinmaidens) who sang lightly like angels as they guarded Das Rheingold – the golden ring that can only be kept by someone who vows to live without love. The maiden’s flirty voices made a striking contrast against the bellowing song of the god Wotan and his almighty brothers. As Wotan traveled through the gray perdition to find Das Rheingold, he was led by his brother, a god of fire with the loveliest voice of all. They eventually acquired the coveted ring and narrowly escaped the curses of the vengeful and deceitful previous owner. In the end, all was well and Wotan’s brother created a rainbow for the heavenly royalty to pass through to their next journey.

Wotan descends

My favorite part of this production, however, was the stage set. The ambiance was minimalist yet monumental; a row of tall, rotating bars stretched out across the stage and served as both a backdrop and an interactive platform. In one moment, the mermaids used their tails to sweep watery rocks down into the depths of the ocean and in the next a starry sky would appear behind the gods. Wotan’s brother conjured up a thunderstorm as he stood atop the horizontal bars, striking down lightning wherever he thrust his staff. When a god or goddess flew in from the ‘sky,’ they actually slid down the bars on their bellies and landed among the ‘clouds’ where the other gods stood. Wotan and his guide walked completely parallel to the stage floor across the vertical bars and down into the underworld.

Das Rheingold was nothing less than an invigorating journey and an engaging performance from the Met Opera cast. The remaining performances are Siegfried (May 16) and Gotterdammerung (May 19).  They are playing at The Arbor Cinema, the Metropolitan 14, and Cinemark Southpark Meadows.

 ~posted by Hannah Kate Schaeffer, KMFA Administrative Assistant

Guest blogger: Dianne Donovan, KMFA-FM announcer and producer of  KMFA’s program, Classical Austin

I had the great honor of introducing the Texas Young Composers Concert last Thursday evening, a presentation of the Austin Symphony Orchestra and the Long Center For the Performing Arts.

Frankly, I was astonished at the level of polish, maturity and creativity in the pieces, all of which were written by teenagers from a wide range of backgrounds an influences. One could feel the anticipation in the air before each composition was performed by the Austin Symphony under the careful baton of Maestro Peter Bay. This is something these young artists and the audience won’t soon forget. Kudos to A.S.O. Executive Director, Anthony Corroa, for his vision on this project and thanks to the ASO board and The Long Center for the Performing Arts for recognizing young talent, and for understanding this talent needs nurturing.

All the young composer finalists gather with ASO Maestro Peter Bay for a photograph the night of the concert.

Throughout the evening’s performance, Buckalew Media provided brief video interviews with each of the young composers, and if you missed the concert, we are happy to share a few of  them with you now. These young artists revealed themselves to be articulate and insightful beyond their years!

      ~posted by Dianne Donovan, KMFA announcer and producer of Classical Austin